A SOCCER centre in Crewe is to be given a facelift in a bid to bring greater opportunities to young footballers.

Bosses at the Alexandra Soccer Centre, Shavington, have drawn up plans for a 75-seater spectator stand and extensions to its car park and all weather pitch.

Proposals for the £560,000 project have been submitted to Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council's planning department and are expected to be considered on June 29.

Ray Walker, who runs the Crewe Road centre with friend Trevor Goodwin, said: 'It's an exciting time for us. We originally wanted two 50 seater stands but it seemed like a better idea to have the single 75 seater one.

'It will enhance our facilities and enable us to extend our goalkeeping training area as well as the pitch to cater for 11-a-side teams.

'Our ambition is to create a community club where teams in the area can all come and join in. The Crewe Alexandra ladies team will play here and disabled footballers will be able to take part.

'Since the centre was built in 1999, we've got stronger, meaning we've been able to do much more for young play-ers.'

The soccer centre, which operates as the 'football in the community' part of Crewe Alexandra, hopes to secure funding in the region of £280,000 from the Football Foundation in the next six months.

More than 2,000 people use the centre each week, most of which are children, and around 60 'mini' teams play every Sunday.

It has four full-time and 20 part-time employee - some of whom train youngsters seven days a week.

Plans for the extension to the centre's car park have delighted Shavington borough councillor Peter Hallett. He said: 'A bigger car park will be extremely helpful to the residents of Crewe Road and Hunters Avenue who have had to put up with vehicles parking on the verges and pave-ments outside their homes.

'The revamp to the centre itself can only be good for the area as it will encourage young footballers to get involved in the game. Shavington is lucky to have such great sports facilities with this and the leisure centre.'